Ocean Acidification (College Board AP® Environmental Science): Flashcards
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Define ocean acidification.
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Cards in this collection (17)
Define ocean acidification.
Ocean acidification is the decrease in pH of ocean water caused by the absorption of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Which acid forms when CO₂ dissolves in seawater?
CO₂ reacts with water to form carbonic acid (H₂CO₃): CO₂ + H₂O → H₂CO₃.
The oceans absorb about of human-produced CO₂.
The oceans absorb about 30% of human-produced CO₂.
Which ions released by carbonic acid directly cause the drop in ocean pH?
Carbonic acid dissociates into hydrogen ions (H⁺) and bicarbonate ions (HCO₃⁻), and the H⁺ ions directly lower the pH.
Why does ocean acidification leave less carbonate for shell-building organisms?
The extra H⁺ ions react with carbonate ions (CO₃²⁻) to form bicarbonate (HCO₃⁻), which locks up the carbonate needed to build calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) shells and skeletons.
True or False?
Ocean acidification slows new shell growth but cannot damage existing shells.
False.
In more acidic water, existing CaCO₃ shells and skeletons can dissolve as the equilibrium shifts to release carbonate that buffers the added H⁺ ions.
How has ocean pH changed since the Industrial Revolution?
Ocean pH has dropped from 8.2 to 8.1 since the Industrial Revolution.
True or False?
A pH drop of 0.1 is too small to make a real difference to ocean acidity.
False.
The pH scale is logarithmic, so this small drop represents a 30% increase in acidity.
How does burning fossil fuels accelerate ocean acidification?
Burning coal, oil, and natural gas in power plants and cars releases CO₂, which the oceans then absorb.
True or False?
Ocean acidification is a direct result of global warming.
False.
Ocean acidification shares the same cause as global warming (increased atmospheric CO₂), but it is not a direct result of global warming.
Cement production releases CO₂ when (CaCO₃) is converted to lime (CaO).
Cement production releases CO₂ when limestone (CaCO₃) is converted to lime (CaO).
How does livestock farming contribute to ocean acidification?
Livestock produce methane (CH₄), which oxidizes to CO₂ in the atmosphere over around 12 years.
How does deforestation contribute to ocean acidification?
Clearing forests reduces the Earth's ability to sequester CO₂, so more CO₂ stays in the atmosphere for the oceans to absorb.
How does ocean acidification affect coral reefs?
Corals find it harder to form calcium carbonate skeletons, which leads to weaker and slower-growing reefs.
Which shell-forming organisms struggle to form and maintain shells in acidic waters?
Mollusks, crabs, and plankton struggle to form and maintain shells in acidic waters; for example, Pacific oyster hatcheries have seen high mortality.
Define pteropods.
Pteropods (sea butterflies) are tiny, shelled snails found in almost all oceans.
How does pteropod shell thinning disrupt marine food webs?
Thinner shells raise pteropod mortality, so fewer are available as food for fish, and the disruption cascades up the food web to fish and marine mammals.
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